Republicans primaries generally low key

With few contests in contention, Chester County Republicans are not expecting a very busy Primary Day Tuesday.

“We are expecting light turn out,” Val DiGiorgio, chairman of the Republican Committee of Chester County. “There are very few primaries. Even the committee races there aren’t as many as years passed, but there are about the usual number of committee challenges.”

A total of seven Republican committee districts are in contention out of the 225 precincts in Chester County. Two members, one male and one female, from county committee will be elected in each county precinct.

State Rep. Dan Truitt, R-156th of East Goshen, said since the numbers are expected to be low at this year’s primary, the candidates in contested races are going to have to work hard at last minute campaigning.

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“It all comes down to what happened on Tuesday and who has better coverage at the polls,” Truitt said.

The biggest contest is for the Republican nomination for state representative in the 158th state house district.

Truit thought that the contest between Cuyler Walker and Roger Howard might be close.

The county GOP endorsed Walker, who is supervisors’ chairman in East Marlborough and a West Chester attorney.

Howard is an East Marlborough resident who previously lost against Sen. Dominic Pileggi in 2012 for the Republican nomination in the 9th District.

“(Voters) should come out and support Walker who is probably one of the most qualified people to run for state in this county,” DiGiorgio said Saturday.

The 158th District includes East Bradford, East Marlborough, London Britain, New Garden, Newlin, West Bradford, West Goshen’s middle and south districts, West Marlborough townships and Avondale Borough.

Truit said Walker has more local support, but anything is possible.

“It could be Roger comes through with a huge election day team that we are not aware of and sometimes you can persuade people last minute walking into the polls,” he said.

“Whoever wins that primary I will be happy to work with them. I wish them both luck and I hope it can be a cordial fight to the end,” Truitt said.

This district includes East Bradford, East Marlborough, London Britain, New Garden, Newlin, West Bradford, West Goshen’s middle and south districts, West Marlborough townships and Avondale Borough.

Chester County Commissioner Ryan Costello is up for a spot in congress representing the 6th Congressional Distict. He said it’s about “working the district, learning the issues and building a campaign team.”

“I’m unopposed in the primary and my opponent (Democrat Manan Trivedi) is, and that sort of has every one looking to November when voters will become more engaged,” Costello said. “The preparation is already headed toward November and not May 20.”

Costello isn’t battling it out with another contender for the Republican spot in the November election for the 6th Congressional District race. However, he said the more fundraising and campaigning that’s done now the better off he might be in November.

“It’s really a fundraising game at this point,” he said. “You are raising money so you have your resources so you can get your message out.”

Republican Gov. Tom Corbitt is unopposed for renomination, leaving the sizzle to the Democratic fight for their party nomination.

The governor stopped by Chester County Saturday to try to rev up the local troops, and remind them that he’ll need them in September.

Others unopposed for Republican nomination include:

State Sen. John Rafferty, R-44th of Collegeville;

State Rep. John Lawrence, R-13th of Franklin;

State Rep. Tim Hennessey, R-26th of North Coventry; state Rep. Becky Corbin, R-155th of Downingtown;

State Rep. Dan Truitt, R-156th of East Goshen;

State Rep. Warren Kampf, R-157th of Tredyffrin;

State Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160th of Upper Chichester; and,

State Rep. Duane Milne, R-167th of Willistown.

Republican nominees for Congress in parts of Chester County include Joe Pitts, R-16th of East Marlborough, whose district includes parts of southern Chester County and all of Lancaster County; and U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-16th of Delaware County of the 16th District, and include Pitts in the 6th District, Congressman Joe Pitts for the 16th

Follow Daily Local News staff writer Kristina Scala on Twitter @Scala_Kris and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KristinaScalaDLN.